NEUTRALITY PACT SIGNED

Evening Star, Issue 23862, 17 April 1941, Page 7

NEUTRALITY PACT SIGNED

MATSUOKA LEAVES, MOSCOW “MUTUAL TRUST AND FRIENDSHIP " LONDON, April IG. The Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr Matsuoka, left Moscow for Tokio after signing the Russian-,]apanese neutrality treaty. He sent the following telegram to M. Stalin:—“The treaty is, above all, the result of your great insight and trust. It will prove a source of inspiration to the foreign policies of both nations, which will henceforth be characterised by mutual trust and friendship.” At. Stalin replied, “ I am certain that the treaty will serve this important historical task. 1 wish you health and success.” JAPAN’S PRESS CAMPAIGN. The Japanese Cabinet approved the pact to the accompaniment of a Press campaign, in which the ‘ Kokumin Shimbun ’ declares; “ America „nd Britain’s mad efforts to retard Japan's southward advance are tending to reach a stage defying a peaceful settlement.” The semi-official ‘ Japan Times ’ says: “ Japan is now able to undertake either an offensive or a defensive war.” A message from New York says that the Tokio correspondent of the ‘ New York Times ’ says the Press has apparently embarked on a new war of nerves against the democracies. MORE RESERVED TONE TOKIO PRESS COMMENT SOVIET POLICY STILL IN DOUBT TOKIO, April 16. (Received April 17, at 1 p.m.) The British Ambassador (Sir Robert Craigle) conferred with Mr Ohashi, after which the Domei Agency stated that, the purpose of Sir Robert’s visit was to ascertain Japan’s attitude following the Russian-Japanese neutrality pact. The metropolitan newspapers to-day adopt a calmer and more reserved tone in referring to the pact. A number of editorials urge caution in JapaneseSoviet relations, and the view is expressed that unless Moscow suspends aid to China and reaches a conclusion on various issues at present outstanding between the two countries, the pact will be valueless. The pact should not be construed as a gesture of goodwill towards Japan, says one paper, but as the natural policy of the Soviet, which seeks to profit by the wars of .others. WARSHIPS FOR GERMANY JAPANESE LEASE DA LEND PLAN UNCONFIRMED REPORTS FROM AMERICA. WASHINGTON, April 15. “ Japan has agreed to lease or lend warships to Germany for use as commerce raiders in the Pacific and Indian Oceans,” states the Washington correspondent of the Overseas Agency. “ The deal is a counter to America’s decision to carry war materials to British forces through the Red Sea. The Japanese ships will be manned by German crews. This concession was made by Japan in return for German pressure on Russia to sign the neutrality pact with Japan.” President Roosevelt, at his Press conference to-day, answered flatly that there was no question whether ho was gloomy, about the British reverses in the Balkans and Libya. He added: “ Do I look depressed?” Discussing the report that Japan was leasing or lending many warships For use in the Pacific, President Roosevelt said he had seen only newspaper reports about it. “which are not always reliable.” He emphasised that neither the Rus-sian-Japanese pact nor the Nazi successes in the Balkans would prevent the United States from continuing to give aid to nations resisting aggression. NETHERLANDS INDIES I _ JAPANESE NEWSPAPER'S DEMAND TERMINATION OF TRADE NEGOTIATIONS TOKIO, April 16. (Received April 17, at 8 a.m.) The ‘ Kokumin Shimbun,’ charging British, Dutch, and American representatives in Manila with discussing joint aggression against Japan, editorially demanded that Japan should terminate the Ncthorland Indies trade negotiations, stating that “ all pending questions between the two countries should be settled once and for all at present.” AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER REMAINING IN ENGLAND FOR FURTHER PERIOD CANBERRA, April 16. The Acting Prime Minister, Mr A. W. Fadden, announced to-day that Mr Menzies was remaining in England for a further brief period at the request of Mr Churchill, who had cabled to members of the Australian Cabinet as follows;—“ We should all be very grateful if Mr Meuzios’s stay could be prolonged to cover the immediate crisis in the Balkans and Libya.” Mr Fadden added that the request was unhesitatingly agreed to. HOME GUARD OFFICERS QUEEN’S BROTHER IN NEW APPOINTMENTS LONDON. April 14. Tlio ‘ Daily Mail,’ under the heading ‘Homo Guard Debrott,’ says: “There are only 19 without titles or previous army rank among the Jl9 Homo Guard officers just appointed. Peers, baronets, knights, brigadiers, and generals are included, and among the remainder is Michael Bowes-Lyon, elder brother of the Queen.”I